Compressible display of e-mail message string to facilitate readability

ABSTRACT

A displayed string of emails is effectively compressed for improved readability by deleting some or all headers and/or by skipping the cursor from one message body to another in response to “hot” key actuation(s) by a user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

This invention deals generally with method and apparatus for improvingthe readability of email message strings.

2. Related Art

Many times the originator of a message will initiate an email“conversation” which causes many subsequent replies and re-repliesand/or, forwardings (perhaps to and from multiple recipients/senders).The result can be a long string of individual email messages.Unfortunately, the message headers associated with each individual replyor forwarding or the like are also included in a typical display of araw string of related email messages.

This can make later (or even current) comprehension of the entire emailexchange difficult. This is especially so when the email message stringis displayed on a relatively small screen (e.g., on a handheld wirelesscommunication device or the like which may only be able to display arelatively limited number of text lines simultaneously on the screen).Of course, as most will appreciate, this same sort of problem can occureven on larger screens such as are available on typical personalcomputers and the like.

While such email message strings may of course be edited by highlightingand deleting portions and thus eliminating redundant material or thelike, such traditional editing efforts are time consuming and may becomecomplex (depending upon the size of the string and/or the nature of theediting software). In addition, such traditional editing of the stringmay accidentally result in loss of the desired message body portion ofsome message (i.e., of material that is actually not redundant).

BRIEF SUMMARY

We have recognized that it would be very useful to provide a convenientway for a reader to automatically but controllably skip less meaningfulportions of the email message string.

For example, if each successive reply and/or forward includes both amessage header text and message body text, it may be convenient topermit deletion of some or all of the message header text so as toeffectively compress the display of email exchanges into a simultaneous(or more nearly simultaneous) display of all meaningful text on theavailable display area. Of course, even if less important text is notactually deleted, even moving automatically from one message body to thenext in response to a single key actuation or the like would alsoprovide a benefit and improve readability. This also effectively“compresses” the complete email string such that meaningful message bodyparts can be successively accessed for viewing by successive actuationsof a “hot” key on the keyboard or the like. A context sensitive menuitem might also be employed to permit a selective user command of somepre-defined type to be detected and acted upon in this manner.

In short, trying to read a message that is made up of multiple forwardsand/or replies can be very difficult on a device with a small screen.This is because in between each message “part” there is a message headerwhich can be multiple screen fulls in size (especially on smallerscreens). It would be nice to have a method to skip from one messagestring “part” to the next.

This can be accomplished through either a hot key or a context sensitivemenu item or some other convenient way for a user to provide apredetermined “skip” command to an associated display unit processor.For example, a message with multiple forwards/replies in it might looklike:

Lets meet at Timmy's

----Original Message----

From: Bob

Sent: Oct. 8, 2004 1:00 PM

To: Bill

Subject: RE: Where to meet for lunch

Ok, where should we meet?

----Original Message----

From: Bill

Sent: Oct. 8, 2004 12:30 PM

To: Box

Subject: Where to meet for lunch

Want to go for lunch?

On some smaller handheld displays, the message header can fill up muchof the screen. Even worse, message headers that contain many recipientscan fill up multiple screens.

Upon invoking, e.g., a hot key/menu item, one may skip down to the firstline after the “Subject” line. If no such line exists, the display maystay where it is and a dialog box may pop up to tell the user that thereare no more message parts.

So in the above example, if the cursor was on the “Let's meet at Timmy'sline, then a skip could take the cursor and display to the “Ok, whereshould we meet?” line.

This is especially beneficial when one is reading something included inthe middle of an email thread because one could then quickly readthrough the previous parts of the thread and catch up with what is goingon. Of course there also could be a hot key to go back upwards throughthe message parts, rather than just scanning in one direction.

This invention may be embodied in hardware, software or a combination ofhardware and software. The invention also provides a method forproviding a compressible display of email message strings to facilitatereadability—especially in a small handheld wireless communicationdevice. The exemplary embodiment is realized, at least in part, byexecutable computer program code (i.e., logic) which may be embodied inphysical program memory media.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will be betterunderstood and appreciated in conjunction with the following detaileddescription of exemplary embodiments taken together with theaccompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is an overall system wide schematic view of an exemplary wirelessemail communication system incorporating a mobile wireless communicationdevice with a selectively compressible display of email string feature;

FIG. 2 is an abbreviated schematic diagram of hardware included withinan exemplary mobile wireless communication device of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3-5 are exemplary abbreviated schematic flow charts of computersoftware (i.e., program logic) that may be utilized in the device ofFIG. 2 so as to provide a feature permitting compressible display ofemail message strings to facilitate readability; and

FIGS. 6A-6F illustrate successive modification of an email messagestring having message headers and message bodies as it is successivelyprocessed to evermore simpler formats for compressed display.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is an overview of an exemplary communication system in which awireless communication device 100 may be used in accordance with thisinvention. One skilled in the art will appreciate that there may behundreds of different system topologies. There may also be many messagesenders and recipients. The simple exemplary system shown in FIG. 1 isfor illustrative purposes only, and shows perhaps the currently mostprevalent Internet email environment.

FIG. 1 shows an email sender 10, the Internet 12, a message serversystem 14, a wireless gateway 16, wireless infrastructure 18, a wirelessnetwork 20 and a mobile communication device 100.

An email sender 10 may, for example, be connected to an ISP (InternetService Provider) on which a user of the system has an account, locatedwithin a company, possibly connected to a local area network (LAN), andconnected to the Internet 12, or connected to the Internet 12 through alarge ASP (application service provider) such as America Online™ (AOL).Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the systems shown in FIG.1 may instead be connected to a wide area network (WAN) other than theInternet, although email transfers are commonly accomplished throughInternet-connected arrangements as shown in FIG. 1.

The message server 14 may be implemented, for example, on a networkcomputer within the firewall of a corporation, a computer within an ISPor ASP system or the like, and acts as the main interface for emailexchange over the Internet 12. Although other messaging systems mightnot require a message server system 14, a mobile device 100 configuredfor receiving and possibly sending email will normally be associatedwith an account on a message server. Perhaps the two most common messageservers are Microsoft Exchange™ and Lotus Domino™. These products areoften used in conjunction with Internet mail routers that route anddeliver mail. These intermediate components are not shown in FIG. 1, asthey do not directly play a role in the invention described below.Message servers such as server 14 typically extend beyond just emailsending and receiving; they also include dynamic database storageengines that have predefined database formats for data like calendars,to-do lists, task lists, email and documentation.

The wireless gateway 16 and infrastructure 18 provide a link between theInternet 12 and wireless network 20. The wireless infrastructure 18determines the most likely network for locating a given user and tracksthe users as they roam between countries or networks. A message is thendelivered to the mobile device 100 via wireless transmission, typicallyat a radio frequency (RF), from a base station in the wireless network20 to the mobile device 100. The particular network 20 may be virtuallyany wireless network over which messages may be exchanged with a mobilecommunication device.

As shown in FIG. 1, a composed email message 22 is sent by the mailsender 10, located somewhere on the Internet 12. This message 22typically uses traditional Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), RFC 822headers and Multipurpose Internet Mail extension (MIME) body parts todefine the format of the mail message. These techniques are all wellknown to those skilled in the art. The message 22 arrives at the messageserver 14 and is normally stored in a message store. Most knownmessaging systems support a so-called “pull” message access scheme,wherein the mobile device 100 must request that stored messages beforwarded by the message server to the mobile device 100. Some systemsprovide for automatic routing of such messages which are addressed usinga specific email address associated with the mobile device 100. In apreferred embodiment, messages addressed to a message server accountassociated with a host system such as a home computer or office computerwhich belongs to the user of a mobile device 100 are redirected from themessage server 14 to the mobile device 100 as they are received.

Regardless of the specific mechanism controlling forwarding of messagesto mobile device 100, the message 22, or possibly a translated orreformatted version thereof, is sent to wireless gateway 16. Thewireless infrastructure 18 includes a series of connections to wirelessnetwork 20. These connections could be Integrated Services digitalNetwork (ISDN), Frame Relay or T1 connections using the TCP/IP protocolused throughout the Internet. As used herein, the term “wirelessnetwork” is intended to include three different types of networks, thosebeing (1) data-centric wireless networks, (2) voice-centric wirelessnetworks and (3) dual-mode networks that can support both voice and datacommunications over the same physical base stations. Combined dual-modenetworks include, but are not limited to, (1) Code Division MultipleAccess (CDMA) networks, (2) the Group Special Mobile or the GlobalSystem for Mobile Communications (GSM) and the General Packet RadioService (GPRS) networks, and (3) future third-generation (3G) networkslike Enhanced Data-rates for Global Evolution (EDGE) and UniversalMobile Telecommunications Systems (UMTS). Some older examples ofdata-centric network include the Mobitex™ Radio Network and the DataTAC™Radio Network. Examples of older voice-centric data networks includePersonal Communication Systems (PCS) networks like GSM, and TDMAsystems.

As depicted in FIG. 2, mobile communication device 100 includes asuitable RF antenna 102 for wireless communication to/from wirelessnetwork 20. Conventional RF, demodulation/modulation and decoding/codingcircuits 104 are provided. As those in the art will appreciate, suchcircuits can involve possibly many digital signal processors (DSPs),microprocessors, filters, analog and digital circuits and the like.However, since such circuitry is well known in the art, it is notfurther described.

The mobile communication device 100 will also typically include a maincontrol CPU 106 which operates under control of a stored program inprogram memory 108 (and which has access to data memory 100). CPU 106also communicates with a conventional keyboard 112, display 114 (e.g.,an LCD) and audio transducer or speaker 116. A portion of program memory108 a available for storing one or more program sub-routines (i.e.,program executable code or logic) for controllably compressing thedisplay of an email message string. As will also be appreciated, adisplay screen buffer 110 a will typically store a file (e.g., an emailmessage string) which is at least partially displayed at 114.

In most email display apparatus (e.g., like mobile communication device100), a file of text including a complete email message string willreside in data memory and some or all of it will appear in a displayscreen buffer (including at least the portion of the entire file that iscurrently being displayed on the screen). This text file is “open” andavailable for text editing. The exemplary embodiment of this inventionprovides automated text editing of a particular type. However, those inthe art will recognize that other kinds of automated text editing mayalso be used for effectively “compressing” the email message string soas to improve its readability (i.e., by either skipping aroundautomatically in the email chain, thread or string and/or byautomatically deleting all or portions of less important pieces of thestring (e.g., headers)).

As is well known, many if not most computer driven devices withkeyboards have “hot” keys (or key combinations) which, when actuated bythe user, cause an immediate predetermined response associated with thehot key functionality that has been defined in logic for that particularkey in given modes of operation. That is, conventional keyboardmonitoring software/hardware routinely watches for the next key stroke(and/or simultaneous actuation of predetermined combinations of keys)and takes appropriate action depending upon which key (keys) has (have)been actuated. When an email display apparatus is put into the automatic“compression” editing mode in accordance with the exemplary embodiment,then there is at least one user action (e.g., the activation of aparticular “hot” key) which will thereafter invoke certain automatictext editing and/or display skipping logic such as that depicted inFIGS. 3-5.

If a text compression mode of operation is desired, then a modeset/unset sub-routine can be entered at 300 as shown in FIG. 3. If anytext compression mode is already set as tested at 302, then all modesare reset at 304 and an inquiry is made at 306 to detect a possibledesire to set another mode. At 308, 310 the user, is given an option toset a single header delete mode. At 312, 314 the user is given an optionto set an all header delete mode. At 316, 318 the user is given anoption to set a skip cursor mode. If no options are taken, a no set modeselected message is displayed at 320 before the sub-routine is exited at322.

As depicted in FIG. 4, if a hot key “down” is actuated (e.g., “D” or “S”or the like as determined by appropriate hot key definition software), alogic of FIG. 4 is entered at 400. A test is made at 402 to find out ifany text compression mode is set. If not, then an immediate exit istaken at 404. If a text compression mode is set, then a test is made at406 to find out if there is any email message located below the currentcursor position. If not, then a suitable dialog box indicating “no moremessage parts” may be displayed at 408 and the routine exited at 410 asindicated in FIG. 4. On the other hand, if there is still a messagelocated below the current location of the cursor, then at 412 at test ismade for single header mode and, if set, then the next lower messageheader may be deleted at 414 from the display automatically. Similarly,if the all header delete mode is detected at 416, then all lower messageheaders are deleted at 418. If the skip cursor mode is set, then thecursor is automatically skipped downward at 420 to the next lowermessage body.

Similarly, the logic of FIG. 5 is entered at 500 (e.g., when a different“hot” key “up” is activated such as, for example, the “W” or “U” key).The flowchart elements in FIGS. 4 and 5 having the same lower orderdigits are analogous except for direction of actions. For example, nowmoving in the upward direction rather than the downward direction, atest is made at 506 to see if there is any message displayed above thecurrent cursor location. If not, then at 508 a suitable dialog boxmessage is displayed indicating that there are no more message parts tobe processed thereabove. On the other hand, if there is still at least amessage above the cursor, then at 512 the next upper message header maybe automatically deleted at 514 or, depending upon the user selectedmode of operation, the cursor may simply be skipped at 520 ahead to thenext higher message body in the string.

As those in the art will appreciate, the hot key definition may requiretwo or more physical keys to be simultaneously actuated or sequentiallyactuated and/or may require the user to enter a particular menu selectedmode of operation before becoming active.

Assuming that the user has selected the mode for successive automaticdeletion of single message header portions, a sequential actuation ofthe hot “down” key may cause a sequence of operations as illustrated inFIGS. 6A-6F. For example, shown in FIG. 6A, a complete email messagestring includes a lowermost original message with header as well asmessage body and a second reply original message located there justabove also having a header as well as message body and a third replymessage body at the very top.

If the user positions the cursor as depicted by the arrow at the top ofthe string in FIG. 6B and actuates the hot “down” key, then the messageheader portion just there below (indicated with a crossed box) isautomatically deleted so as to result in a compressed email string asdepicted at FIG. 6C. Using the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4, evenwithout moving the cursor, another actuation of the “hot” down key wouldcause deletion of the next successive message header portion in thedownward direction as depicted in FIG. 6D so as to result in the furthercompressed email string depicted at FIG. 6E.

Once again, in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4, even if the cursor isnot moved by the user, another depression of the “hot” down key wouldresult in finding no more message headers therebelow so the dialog boxdisplaying “no more message parts” would be displayed instead as shownin FIG. 6F.

Of course, if the tests being made at 406 and 506 are looking only forany immediately adjacent portion of a message (i.e., either header orbody), then the user would have to move the cursor into successivepositions as shown in FIGS. 6A-6F in order to obtain the same endresult. However, in the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 3-5, the test at406 and 506 is actually looking for any message headers (below or abovethe cursor, respectively) and therefore the cursor could be left fixedat some particular starting point as may be desired by the user.

As will be appreciated, the desired display also may be automaticallyperformed in its entirety in a selected mode of operation so as toinitially display the final fully compressed display (e.g., FIG. 6F).

Those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations andmodifications may be made to the exemplary embodiments described abovewhile yet retaining novel features and advantages of those exemplaryembodiments. Accordingly, all such variations and modifications areintended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

1. A method for improving readability of an email message stringincluding successive message headers with their respective associatedmessage bodies, said method comprising: automatically determining partsof such message string having possibly greater interest to a reader; anddisplaying at least one such located part of the email message string soas to enhance its readability.
 2. A method as in claim 1 comprising:displaying at least a portion of a complete email message stringincluding successive message headers with their respective associatedmessage bodies; upon a pre-defined user command being detected,automatically deleting from such display at least one message header. 3.A method as in claim 2 wherein said pre-defined user command is effectedby actuation of at least one hot key on a keyboard associated with adevice on which said display appears.
 4. A method as in claim 2 wherein:upon each repetition of said pre-defined user command being detected,automatically deleting from such display at least one further messageheader if such is still present.
 5. A method as in claim 4 wherein saidsuccessive deletions begin at a user-marked location in the display. 6.A method as in claim 4 wherein said successive deletions occur in adownward direction through the message string.
 7. A method as in claim 4wherein said successive deletions occur in an upward direction throughthe message string.
 8. A method as in claim 2 wherein said completeemail message string exceeds an available capacity for simultaneousdisplay of successive text lines.
 9. A method as in claim 8 whereinsuccessive repetition of said pre-defined user command causes increasinglines of remaining message body text to be simultaneously displayed tothe user.
 10. A method as in claim 9 wherein the email message string isbeing displayed on a handheld sized mobile wireless communication devicehaving a correspondingly limited display area.
 11. A method as in claim1 comprising: displaying at least a portion of a complete email messagestring including successive message headers with their respectiveassociated message bodies; upon a pre-defined user command beingdetected, automatically altering the display so as to enhancereadability of a said located part of the message.
 12. A method as inclaim 11 wherein said automatic alteration of the display comprisesmoving a cursor to a next message body.
 13. An email display apparatuscapable of compressing display of an email message string to improvereadability of the email message string, said apparatus comprising: avisual display displaying at least a portion of a complete email messagestring including successive message headers with their respectivelyassociated message bodies; an email display processor including a usercommand detector and processor which, upon detecting such command,automatically deletes from such display at least one message header. 14.An email display apparatus as in claim 13 wherein said user commanddetector includes at least one hot key on a keyboard associated with theemail display apparatus.
 15. An email display apparatus as in claim 13wherein: said processor is adapted, upon detecting a repetition of saiduser command, to automatically delete at least one further messageheader from said display if such is still present.
 16. An email displayapparatus as in claim 15 wherein said processor is adapted to causesuccessive deletions to begin at a user-marked location in the display.17. An email display as in claim 15 wherein said processor is adapted tocause successive deletions to occur in a downward direction through themessage string.
 18. An email display apparatus as in claim 15 whereinsaid processor is adapted to cause successive deletions to occur in anupward direction through the message string.
 19. An email displayapparatus as in claim 13 wherein said complete email message stringexceeds an available capacity for simultaneous display of successivetext lines.
 20. An email display apparatus as in claim 19 wherein saidprocessor is adapted to cause successive repetition of said user commandto cause increasing lines of remaining message body text to besimultaneously displayed to the user.
 21. An email display apparatus asin claim 20 comprising a handheld sized mobile wireless communicationdevice having a correspondingly limited display area.
 22. A machinereadable computer program storage medium on which is stored at least onecomputer program which, when executed in a suitable computer, effects amethod for improving readability of an email message string, said methodcomprising: displaying at least a portion of a complete email messagestring including successive message headers with their respectivelyassociated message bodies; upon a pre-defined user command beingdetected, automatically deleting from such display at least one messageheader.
 23. A machine readable computer program storage medium as inclaim 22 wherein said pre-defined user command is effected by actuationof at least one key on a keyboard associated with a device on which saiddisplay appears.
 24. A machine readable computer program storage mediumas in claim 22 wherein: upon each repetition of said pre-defined usercommand being detected, automatically deleting from such display atleast one further message header if such is still present.
 25. A machinereadable computer program storage medium as in claim 24 wherein saidsuccessive deletions begin at a user-marked location in the display. 26.A machine readable computer program storage medium as in claim 24wherein said successive deletions occur in a downward direction throughthe message string.
 27. A machine readable computer program storagemedium as in claim 24 wherein said successive deletions occur in anupward direction through the message string.
 28. A machine readablecomputer program storage medium as in claim 22 wherein said completeemail message string exceeds an available capacity for simultaneousdisplay of successive text lines.
 29. A machine readable computerprogram storage medium as in claim 28 wherein successive repetition ofsaid pre-defined user command causes increasing lines of remainingmessage body text to be simultaneously displayed to the user.
 30. Amachine readable computer program storage medium as in claim 29 whereinthe email message string is being displayed on a handheld sized mobilewireless communication device having a correspondingly limited displayarea.